August 17, 2007

Big Z re-signs for 5 years, $91.5 million

UPDATE: The Cubs and pitcher Carlos Zambrano have agreed to terms on a five-year, $91.5 million contract extension -- including a $5 million signing bonus -- that will keep him with the club through at least the 2012 season.

The deal includes a vesting option for a sixth year based on performance, including where Zambrano finishes in Cy Young voting.

"I feel comfortable right now, but it's not enough," Zambrano said at a press conference Friday morning. "I have a mission to complete. Our team this year, I know that we can win. That's the main concern right now."

Zambrano's deal, which includes the highest average annual salary among pitchers in baseball history for multi-year deals (excluding, for example, one-year deals signed by Roger Clemens), gives Zambrano a full no-trade clause.

Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, has been in town this week talking to Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.

The two sides were close to a deal on Opening Day when the announcement of the sale of the team by Tribune Company put a snag in negotiations.

"It's a good ending to something we wish we could have finished in March," Hendry said.

After a poor start to the season and a little incident in which Zambrano punched catcher Michael Barrett, he reeled off nine wins in his next 11 decisions before going into a mini-slump his last three starts.

Zambrano, who will pitch in the Sunday night game against St. Louis, said recently there was a 97 percent chance that he would return to the Cubs instead of leaving via free agency. That figure rose three percentage points on Friday, and Zambrano will remain a Cub for the foreseeable future.

Zambrano, 26, owns a 78-51 career record with a 3.37 ERA in 193 games with the Cubs since making his major league debut in 2001. Zambrano, who signed with the team as a non-drafted free agent on July
12, 1997, has spent his entire 10-season professional career in the Cubs organization.

This season, Zambrano is tied for the National League lead with 14 victories while his 168 innings pitched ranks fourth and his 139 strikeouts rank fifth.

Comments

Dear lord I hope there is truth here. As things stand now, a resigning of Big Z today might not have come at a better time. Though they haven't won the majority of their last seven games, the Cubs hit well enough to sweep the Reds - if, of course, it weren't for some untimely pitching by the Aces of the staff. Everyone's talking about how loose the boys are and how excited they remain for this pennant run. Let's hope securing Zambrano calms him down and the rest of the pitching staff with it. If he can right the ship over the next few weeks and get us to September in a position at least similar to where we stand now, this year's autumn might finally hold some moments we want to remember...not forget.

I think this is great news. Maybe not having a contract secured is the reason big Z has been very inconsistent. I think if he signs this new deal it is only goin to make him feel more secure and comfortable, and we will start to see a more consistent and dominating pitcher as we head down the home stretch for the playoffs. Great move by the cubs management to get this deal done. If big Z went into free agency, he would of ended up with one of the New York teams.I think this announcement is goin to get the cubs on a big winning streak. GO CUBS

Wooo Hooo! This made my day at work that much easier. Great to hear. Let's take at least three out of four against the Cards and take command of the Central (as long as the Brewers keep losing). This contract is a bargain compared to what Big Z would have gotten on the open market. Hopefully Z will get back on track in his next start!

This is a great move for the Cubs. There are not many #1 starters as good as he is. Now maybe he can get his emotions under control and lead this team to the NL Central title. I hope this is a sign of good things to come!

As much as I love Big Z, honestly I think that all that money would be better spent getting a couple more quality pitchers at 10 million each. Lilly has proved to be just as good as Carlos this year, and its quite obvious that Soriano isnt worth his money either- that could have been better spent also. Dont get me wrong, I love having Zambrano but if its a matter of payroll it might not be the best way to go.

This is a great deal for the cubs. This guy is durable and an innings eater! Reported as 5 years 90 million that is a bargin. Look what Zito got from the Giants. Zambrano would have easily gotten that plus some more. This shows that he truely loves playing in Chicago, and wants to help this team become a world series champion.

Good timing. Now let's go out and beat up those cocky redbirds and let them know they have no chance in this division. 3 out of 4 would be nice and reminiscent of Sept 2003 when a confident cardinal team came to wrigley in a pennant race and 5 days later left town w/ their tail between their legs. we need Rich Hill to step up big-time today.

Thank god. Now where's all the idiot fans whining about how the Cubs were trying to "cheap out" on Zambrano? Some of the posts I see on here make it no wonder so many Cubs fans are thought of as idiots by other people, but I digress.

Great deal for both the Cubs and Z. Lets hope this is just the start to a great weekend for the Cubs.

There's risk in signing him to such a long deal, of course, but now that this is out of the way I would hope that Z will get his head back in the game when he's pitching and perform like he's clearly capable of performing. A (mentally) locked-in Z might just put the Cubs into the post-season, since it looks like no one in the Comedy Central really wants it. He's got a chance to help put the hurt on the Cardinals post-season hopes this weekend.

He's never been seriously hurt and I don't see any reason why he can't get better as he matures. He's still plenty young in spite of his experience. I don't say this very often anymore, but good move Jim Hendry!

about time...frikkin idiots. they're saying its 10 million MORE than they would have had to pay in april. 5 years at 90 mill. at least they signed him though. had they let him go...that would be incredibley stupid...

Would have been the most coveted free agent pitcher of next off-season, sure to get similar money and years from whomever signed him, and about the only people on the planet who are criticizing this move in any great strength are Sox fans.

I love the smell of sour grapes in the morning. It smells like ... a pennant race.

Smart decision. "Z" is too young and too talented to let leave. He may not end up being a 300 game winner like Maddux (Then again he may), but I think it would have been considered just as big a loss down the road.

I understand he is having an "off" year, for him, but there are a LOT of pitchers in MLB that their best years don't look like Z's off year.

Finally money well spent. Hopefully a good sign that the impending sale isn't influencing all their baseball decisions.

Now, lets take at LEAST 3 of 4 from the Cards. That should sufficiently push them back, while also leap-frogging the tailspinning Brewers!

To all of the haters, ask yourself one question, "Does this man have passion?" It drips from his shoulder every start, so shut your gaping hole and enjoy the next Cy Young award winner and World Series MVP...

Great news...now maybe he can clear his head and get back on the winning track. Success and happiness can be contagious...maybe it will spread through him to the rest of the team and we can put together a looooooooooooooong winning streak.

OK, where are all the anti "Big Z" Cub fans? He is a distraction, he is a CRYBABY!!!!! If I were Barrett I would have dropped the entire bat rack on his head!!! And Barrett is not a keeper, either... HE IS AN IDIOT! Just like "CORKY" Sosa, the Cub fans are being wooed to be hurt.....You will not see the World Series until 2159!!!!!! CUb fans better pray that MArk Cuban gets this team next year. If Uncle Bud and Uncle Jerry will allow him to!

The Cubs finally are starting to getting it, first Ramirez, now Zambrano. They are starting to keep their young players on the verge of stardom, rather than keep going out and trying to sign Free Agents once they have maxed out the potential (Lee and Soriano). Now, Lee and Soriano are great players, but it would have been nice if they could have groomed and worked with them before they reached their stardom and maybe receive a "hometown discount".

The experts say that stars and great players will not be staying with one team for their entire careers, maybe not, but if treated well when they are becoming stars, maybe they will start, and fans can associate with players again.